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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/michigan-ci...ations/26442854

MICHIGAN CITY -

The state of Indiana has ordered the immediate closing of Tricia's Playhouse, a childcare home, after a 5-year-old boy hanged himself on a jump rope and died at the day care Monday.

WSBT investigated the day care, and found it has a history of violations.

Officials from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Department of Child Services were on the scene Tuesday night, looking into the day care, located on 1824 E. Michigan Blvd.

Authorities decided the conditions are too dangerous, and "pose an immediate threat to the life and well-being of the children."

They also ruled 5-year-old Amareon Williams died of asphyxiation "due to lack of supervision."

History of violations

While the day care is licensed by the state of Indiana, it was placed on probation over the last several months due to those violations.

State documents show Tricia's Playhouse, owned by a woman named Tricia Calvin, has been cited by inspectors six times. All of those violations were found on April 21, 2014. Several of them were very serious.

The FSSA states Tricia's Playhouse did not report a case of suspected sex abuse, physical abuse or child exploitation. Caretakers are required to do so under state law.

Another violation states a caretaker punished one child "inappropriately," breaking state laws that prohibit "cruel, harsh or unusual punishment" to children.

Other violations include a fire exit hazard, missing certifications for two staff members, and no proper background checks performed on two staff members before their employment.

Calvin opened the day care in May 2012, but had no violations until April 2014. The state is required to perform inspections only once a year.

Calvin has 90 days to appeal the closure. Otherwise, the day care will stay closed for the next 90 days. The state may choose to extend that closure.

The LaPorte County Prosecutor Bob Szilagyi tells WSBT they are still investigating the boy's death. It will take several days before the office decides whether or not to file criminal charges.

Before it was closed, Tricia's Playhouse received federal money to care for low-income children. It is no longer eligible to receive those funds.

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Michigan City Police Department

On Monday June 9th at 12:14pm members of the Michigan City Police Department, Fire Department, and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were dispatched to Tricia’s Playhouse and Daycare located at 1824 E. Michigan Boulevard in reference to a five (5) year old male child that was having difficulty breathing. The child was transported from the daycare to Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital for medical treatment. After arrival at the hospital the child was unable to recover and was pronounced deceased by the medical staff.

The death is being investigated by the Michigan City Police Department with the assistance of the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s office, and the LaPorte County Coroner’s office. A forensic autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday June 10th. Additional information will be provided once investigators conclude the additional interviews and once results of the autopsy are provided to the investigators. The name of the child is currently being withheld pending the notification of family members.

Anyone with questions or information related to this investigation are asked to contact the Investigative Division Commander Lieutenant Cary Brinkman at 219-874-3221 extension #310.

Respectfully:

Chief Mark J. Swistek

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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The daycare has been closed down.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...7e4f0643eb.html

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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...22cac06746.html

Leann Burke Leann.Burke@nwi.com
MICHIGAN CITY | The mother of a boy who accidentally hanged himself at Tricia's Playhouse day care in Michigan City has hired a law firm to look into the tragedy.

"It's hard for me to imagine a clearer case of negligence," said Mark Novak, managing partner at Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak and Kohen Ltd, of Chicago.

Anita Leflore hired the law firm after her son, Amareon Williams, 5, died of asphyxiation after getting caught in a jump rope.

Novak said the firm plans to file a wrongful death suit in the LaPorte County on Monday or Tuesday.

"Obviously, if there had been adult supervision, this tragedy would have been avoided," Novak said.

Williams was playing outside with some other children when he got caught in a jump rope slung over a play set, officials said. The day care workers were inside caring for babies at the time of the incident, but periodically checked on the children outside.

Novak said he does not think his firm has found any new information during the investigation.

Novak has been handling personal injury and wrongful death cases for 35 years.

"I cannot think of another case that has affected me so personally," Novak said.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration found that Tricia's Playhouse was "in violation of supervision regulations," according to the Associated Press. The day care was already on probation after an April 21 inspection.

Neither a representative from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration nor from Tricia's Playhouse could be reached for comment Friday.

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http://www.abc57.com/home/top-stories/Fami...-263718351.html

LAPORTE, Ind. -- The family of the 5-year-old who died at a Michigan City daycare has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the daycare.
Five-year-old Amareon Williams died of asphyxiation on June 9.
The LaPorte County Coroner said Williams hanged himself on a jump rope tied to a piece of wood on the playground at Tricia's Playhouse and Daycare in Michigan City.

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Michigan City Community.com
1 hr ·
Charges were filed Friday against the owner of a Michigan City day care center for the hanging death of a 5-year old boy.
Tricia Calvin is charged in LaPorte Superior Court with involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.
Police and prosecutors are withholding any comment on the case. However, it's alleged in the charges that on June 9, Calvin failed to properly supervise the boy, resulting in his death.

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WSBT-TV added 2 new photos.
2 mins · Edited ·

JUST IN TO OUR NEWSROOM: Police have released mug shots of two day care employees also facing charges in the death of a 5-year-old boy. Officials say Stephanie Johnson (left) turned herself in to LaPorte County Jail and bonded out today. Erica Merriweather is still wanted. More info: http://bit.ly/1oBfw2y

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What is scary about this is that if both have had mugshots BEFORE they were arrested, that means both had trouble with the law, and were still working with young children at this daycare.

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Merriweather is in custody

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/3rd-michiga...rested/27216716

[Tim]

What is scary about this is that if both have had mugshots BEFORE they were arrested, that means both had trouble with the law, and were still working with young children at this daycare.

"In a background check on Calvin, Johnson and Merriweather, WSBT found Merriweather pleaded guilty to battery in December 2012. "

Yeah - THAT'S who I want caring for my kids.

Unbelievable this place was still open for business.

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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/disturbing-...-death/27328664

A Michigan City mother whose son died at day care has filed a lawsuit claim against the state of Indiana. Anita Leflore says Tricia's Playhouse should have been shut down before her 5-year-old son, Amareon Williams, died there.

WSBT obtained a report filed by a parent whose child apparently attended the day care in April. That parent claims she has video of a day care employee spanking her child with a belt. That report was filed with the state five days before workers inspected Tricia’s Playhouse and found what it called 6 “serious” violations.



“It makes your stomach turn,” said Leflore’s attorney, Mark Novak.

The lawyer told WSBT he’s slowly uncovering more information about what happened the day Amareon died from what LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan called an “accidental hanging” at Tricia’s Playhouse.

Novak said investigators told him three other children around the same age as Amareon were playing outside when it happened. Amareon apparently went down a slide with a jump rope around his neck.

Employees Stephanie Johnson and Erica Merriweather were inside, not watching the kids playing outside, said LaPorte County Prosecutor Bob Szilagyi, who charged the two and day care owner Tricia Calvin with involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.

Calvin was not at the day care when the boy died, Szilagyi added.

But according to Novak, there were warning signs.

“After their inspection on April 21 [when workers] detected and learned of these 6 serious violations that the facility should have been shuttered at that point,” he said.

Those violations included things such as failure to report suspected child abuse or sexual abuse, a child dealt with inappropriately and two staff members working without background checks.

The day care was put on probation after that inspection and Indiana Family and Social Services spokesman Jim Gavin said the state sent notices to 11 parents whose children attended Tricia’s Playhouse to let them know about the violations. The notices were sent via certified mail, and a notice was put in the newspaper, Gavin said.

Leflore has said she did not receive a letter from the state and was never notified about the day care’s alleged violations.

That state inspection happened five days after a parent filed the complaint about the day care with the state – claiming a day care worker spanked her child with a belt, violently grabbed the child, shook the child and dragged the child into a back room. The state redacted that parent’s name in the report provided to Novak because of privacy reasons.

“To think someone places their kid in the care and custody of people who would do this just blows your mind,” Novak added.

Novak said state law requires him to file the Tort Claim Notice with Indiana’s Governor, Attorney General and the Family and Social Services Administration. The state has 90 days to respond.

If it does not respond or denies the claim, Novak said he will move forward with a lawsuit.

There is already a lawsuit in Amareon’s death. Leflore filed a wrongful-death suit against Calvin and Novak said he plans to add Merriweather and Johnson’s names to the suit.

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The mother of the 5 year old boy who died in Tricia's daycare is threatening a lawsuit against the State of Indiana.

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/...8/11/253131.htm

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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/michigan-ci...ropped/28146952

MICHIGAN CITY -

The owner of a LaPorte County day care where a young boy accidentally hanged himself wants her charges dropped.

According to the Michigan City News Dispatch, Tricia Calvin says she is not responsible for the boy's death, because she wasn't at the day care when it happened.

Amareon Williams, 5, died at Tricia's Playhouse in Michigan City back in June. His mother has said she plans to sue the State of Indiana, saying the day care should have been shut down before her son died.

Two other employees face charges in his death. Investigators say they were inside at the time and not watching the kids play outside.

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http://www.abc57.com/news/local/EXCLUSIVE-...-275669361.html

By Alexandra Koehn

Story Created: Sep 18, 2014 at 6:32 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2014 at 10:14 AM EDT

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind.-- Three women charged in connection with the death of a toddler at Tricia's Playhouse daycare in Michigan City appeared in court on Thursday.

June 5-year-old Amereon Williams was playing outside at Tricia's Playhouse when the coroner said he got tangled in a jump rope attached to a piece of playground equipment and accidentally hanged himself.

Erica Merriweather, Tricia Calvin, and Stephanie Johnson have been charged with reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter.

The toddler's mother Anita Leflore said it was the first time she has seen them since she dropped her son off at the daycare on the day that he died.

Inside the courtroom Leflore held her head in her hands and sobbed.

She said no matter what happens, she will never get to hold her little boy again.

Leflore said, “I have his voice in my head. I never get it out of my head. Every morning I hear him. Every night before I go to sleep I hear him.”

Leflore's family and friends came to court wearing t-shirts with Amereon's picture on it.

“I’m depressed, I’m hurt and I’m sad because my baby isn’t here anymore," said Leflore.

Leflore said the courtroom felt like a terrible nightmare.

“Miss (Tricia) Calvin’s daughter smiled today in court. And I cried because here it is they’re smiling and they look happy,” Leflore said.

Merriweather, Calvin, and Johnson will be back in court on Monday because their attorneys filed a motion to dismiss.

Judge Lang posted tentative trial dates on Thursday.

We asked all three defendants if they had any comment but they all refused.

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http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/993...ed-tim-anderson

MICHIGAN CITY -

The woman who owns the LaPorte County daycare where a little boy accidentally hanged himself is due in court today.

Tricia Calvin is facing charges in the death of 5-year-old Amareon Williams.

Calvin has said she wants those charges dropped because she was not at the Michigan City daycare at the time of the boy's death.

Two other women were there -- and are also facing charges in this case.

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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...760da24526.html

MICHIGAN CITY | A judge has dismissed one of two criminal charges filed against the owner of a Michigan City day care facility where a 5-year-old boy was strangled by a jump rope.

Patricia Calvin, 44, argued in a LaPorte County courtroom that she should not be held legally responsible for the boy's death alleging the mother dropped off the boy without scheduling an appointment as previously requested.

In a decision handed down Friday, LaPorte Superior Judge Kathleen Lang dismissed a Class D felony involuntary manslaughter charge, but upheld the more serious Class C felony charge of reckless homicide against Calvin.

Calvin faces two to eight years in prison if convicted.

Her attorney, Scott Pejic, reacted to the decision with mixed feelings, saying to achieve a guilty verdict, prosecutors, as in any criminal case, will be held to a higher standard.

"Just because the state can move forward doesn't mean there will be enough evidence to get a conviction or withstand an appeal," Pejic said.

Amareon Williams died June 9 at Tricia's Playhouse in Michigan City when a jump rope draped over the top of a playset somehow got around his neck.

He slid down a slide but stopped before reaching the bottom with the other end of the rope still fastened to the top of the playset.

In her motion seeking dismissal, Calvin said the day before the boy's death, she told his mother, Anita Leflore, in a text message she must provide a schedule outlining the days of the week she was bringing her children. Without one, she said, the kids would not be accepted.

The next day, though, Leflore dropped off her children anyway, said Calvin, who also noted in her written arguments that she was not there when the kids showed up or when the boy died.

According to authorities, two employees of the day care facility were inside tending to children under the age of 4 when the boy and several other children of similar age were outside in the playground.

The kids were not being supervised, though, when the accident happened and as the owner, Calvin was reckless in not making sure her employees watched the children and inspected the grounds to remove any potential safety hazards, said LaPorte County Deputy Prosecutor Dave Ambers.

"I'm obviously glad the judge chose to keep the higher felony," Ambers said.

Leflore, of Michigan City, has two younger daughters and after the motion was filed in September offered some thoughts about her son.

"He should still be here with me and he should still be here with his sisters and his family but he's not. He was a perfect kid but he's gone now," said Leflore, who described her son as smart, caring and full of energy.

Leflore said she has spoken to the media to emphasize that her son is not just a statistic and that his tragic death matters.

"He was important. He did mean something," she said.

The employees, Stephanie Johnson and Erica Merriweather, are also charged with reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter.

A motion by Johnson to dismiss the charges against her is still pending.

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http://www.wbiw.com/state/archive/2015/08/...ss-homicide.php

northern Indiana daycare worker has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the death of a 5-year-old boy who accidentally hung himself on its playground.

Stephanie Johnson of Michigan City entered the plea Friday in LaPorte Circuit Court. Under a plea agreement, she will testify for prosecutors against the owner of daycare and is due to be sentenced to four years on probation.

Authorities say Johnson was inside Tricia's Playhouse in Michigan City with two other two women when Amareon Williams accidentally hung himself with a jump rope at in June 2014.

The state shut down the daycare shortly after the boy died.

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http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publi...1333c18680.html

By Stan Maddux Tribune Correspondent

LAPORTE — A second defendant has now admitted to having a role in the 2014 death of a 5-year-old boy at a Michigan City day care center.

Erica Merriweather, 26, under a guilty plea submitted Friday in LaPorte Circuit Court, will receive a sentence of four years on probation with no jail time for Class C felony reckless homicide charge if she testifies against day care center owner Tricia Calvin.

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http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/day-care-wo...ty-boy/35358786

Stephanie Johnson was sentenced to 4 years of probation for reckless homicide on Friday. She pleaded guilty to that charge last month.

She's one of three women charged in Amareon Williams' death.

The coroner says he accidentally hanged himself with a jump rope on a playset at Tricia's Playhouse in 2014.

Police say no one was outside watching the little boy when it happened.

The state shut down the day care shortly after the boy died.

Johnson will serve no jail time in exchange for testimony against the day care owner.

Tricia Calvin is scheduled to go on trial in February.

The other woman charged, Erica Merriweather, will be sentenced in October.

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Calvin has pled guilty.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publi...556308f0ec.html